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The Harp (Fuller Smith & Turner)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk StoutExcellent2
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PorterExcellent1
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent2
Dark Star - Six HopExcellent1
Siren Craft - White TipsExcellent1
Siren Craft - Yu LuExcellent1
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent2
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dr Sunshine's Special Friendly English Wheat AleGood1
Oakham - Bishops FarewellGood1
Weird Beard - OpulenceGood1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterGood2
Gloucester - Session IPAGood2
Tankleys (cuckoo at Beerblefish) - English Golden Strong AleGood3
Windsor & Eton - Koh-i-noor IPAGood1
Redemption - HopspurAcceptable1
Bexley - Golden AcreAcceptable1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PrideAcceptable1
Hackney - Mr Freeze PaleNot Tried0
Sambrook's - JunctionNot Tried0
Vale - GravitasNot Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London PorterNot Tried0
Southwark - Potters' Fields PorterNot Tried0
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)Not Tried0
Southwark - Maltby Street MildNot Tried0
Sambrook's - WandleNot Tried0
Gloucester - West Coast RedNot Tried0
Dark Star - Partridge Best BitterNot Tried0
Vale - Black Swan MildNot Tried0
East London (ELB) - Quadrant Oatmeal Stout (now please use 5.5% entryNot Tried0
Vale - Brill Gold (was 3.5%)Not Tried0
Belleville - Picnic Session IPANot Tried0
Vale - Black Beauty PorterNot Tried0
Crouch Vale - Brewers GoldNot Tried0
Redemption - Urban DuskNot Tried0
Tiny Rebel - CwtchNot Tried0
Siren Craft - Half Mast QIPANot Tried0
Shiny - 4 WoodNot Tried0
Harvey's - Copperwheat BeerNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Southern StarNot Tried0
Hop Stuff - FusilierNot Tried0
XT Brewing - No. 13 Pacific Red AleNot Tried0
Exit 33 (formerly The Brew Company then Sky's Edge) - StoutNot Tried0
Vocation - Chop & Change EurekaNot Tried0
Dark Star - SunburstNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London
Picture 2. The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Visits Details

20 Jun 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 11.30pm close. A lighting fault gave this an intimate feel, fortunately the fans kept us cool.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Excellent
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Excellent
Redemption - Hopspur4.50AcceptableLacklustre with few discerning features at all
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Sambrook's - Wandle3.80Not Tried
Dark Star - Partridge Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
East London (ELB) - Quadrant Oatmeal Stout (now please use 5.5% entry5.80Not Tried
Belleville - Picnic Session IPA4.40Not Tried
16 Jun 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until midnight close. Thinned out quite a bit with half an hour to go.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentAt the top of its form; head, lacing, condition and taste
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dr Sunshine's Special Friendly English Wheat Ale4.20Good
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10AcceptableRedeemed a Beer Day Britain gratis pint, unfortunately a blander tasting pint I have not encountered for a while
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Sunburst4.80Not Tried
Sambrook's - Junction4.50Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - London Porter5.00Not TriedClip has reverted from Mad to Red!
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)3.40Not Tried
14 Jun 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 11.30pm close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Six Hop6.50ExcellentSuperb bitter sweet balance
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Harvey's - Copperwheat Beer4.80Not Tried
Hop Stuff - Fusilier4.30Not Tried
Exit 33 (formerly The Brew Company then Sky's Edge) - Stout5.00Not Tried
08 Jun 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 11.30pm close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Bishops Farewell4.60Good
Weird Beard - Opulence10.90GoodHeavy, slow drinking vanilla stout. Needed more time but chucking out time could not be extended longer than it was
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Crouch Vale - Brewers Gold4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Redemption - Urban Dusk4.60Not Tried
Tiny Rebel - Cwtch4.60Not Tried
Siren Craft - Half Mast QIPA2.80Not Tried
05 Jun 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 11.30pm close. Very light business. Limited beer range as comprehensive line cleaning taking place after closing time.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout4.50Good
Windsor & Eton - Koh-i-noor IPA4.50Good
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not TriedRan out
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
30 May 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 11.30pm close. Very quiet implying a handover from the bank holiday.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Excellent
Siren Craft - White Tips4.50Excellent
Siren Craft - Yu Lu3.60ExcellentSome debate as to whether, as a "loose leaf pale ale" was loose leafed hops or tea. Siren's beer description says: "Yu Lu is an intricate beer with layers of flavour that remain distinctive, yet work in perfect harmony. Her name alludes to the mystical history of the humble tea leaf, which delivers subtle bergamot orange and lemon notes here, accentuated by the addition of lemon zest. Her delicate hop high notes will leave your taste buds sparkling." To me it was just an OK beer and, yes, it is brewed with Earl Grey Tea!
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Vale - Black Swan Mild3.90Not Tried
Vale - Brill Gold (was 3.5%)3.40Not Tried
Vale - Black Beauty Porter4.40Not Tried
26 May 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tankleys (cuckoo at Beerblefish) - English Golden Strong Ale5.60GoodAgain at 5.7%, not as good as the cask earlier in the week
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00AcceptableTasted too caramelly to be right, but probably as delivered to the pub
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Vale - Gravitas4.80Not Tried
Southwark - Potters' Fields Porter4.00Not Tried
Southwark - Maltby Street Mild3.80Not Tried
Gloucester - West Coast Red4.80Not Tried
23 May 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 11.30pm close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Porter5.40ExcellentPerhaps a slight sweetness in the brew that was not really to my liking
Gloucester - Session IPA4.50GoodApparently deliberately hazy. Good on the bitterness front
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
XT Brewing - No. 13 Pacific Red Ale4.50Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Southern Star4.00Not Tried
Vocation - Chop & Change Eureka4.50Not Tried
Hackney - Mr Freeze Pale4.80Not Tried
22 May 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 11.30pm close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout4.50Excellent
Tankleys (cuckoo at Beerblefish) - English Golden Strong Ale5.60ExcellentWould be nice if the pump clip showed the true provenance of this cuckoo brew. A heady brew it was, with distinctive tastes, badged as 5.7% tonight
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Shiny - 4 Wood4.50Not Tried
Bexley - Golden Acre4.00Not Tried
Gloucester - Session IPA4.50Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Southern Star4.00Not Tried
22 May 2017 (Stephen Harris)
I popped in here after work to try the new Tankley’s Brewery beer, ended up chatting to the brewer for a while, and then ran in to a whole gang of CAMRA bods who were here for some sort of cider-drinking social. So plans to have just one pint kind of dissolved.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70ExcellentAlways an excellent choice.
Gloucester - Session IPA4.50GoodHazy, dry, hoppy and rather good I thought.
Tankleys (cuckoo at Beerblefish) - English Golden Strong Ale5.60GoodThis cask brewed at Beerblefish (Tankley’s do not yet have their own premises) and coming out at 5.7%. Golden, hazy, full-bodied and fruity. Hopped with Cascade and dry-hopped with Vic Secret.
Bexley - Golden Acre4.00AcceptableA straightforward Golden Ale.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Bristol Beer Factory - Milk Stout4.50Not Tried
Shiny - 4 Wood4.50Not Tried

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About The Harp

The pub sign. The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional24
Excellent562
Good280
Acceptable75
Poor7

Website.

The pub is found in Charing Cross, Central London, WC2N 4HS.

Formerly the Welsh Harp, a small narrow long pub on Chandos Place, just a stone's throw from Charing Cross railway station, so very handy for commuters. Hanging baskets at the front are attractive. A steep flight of stairs leads to the toilets and an upstairs room. There is an alley at the rear for smokers. Won the ultimate accolade as CAMRA National Pub of the Year in 2010. In 2011 CAMRA London Cider Pub of the Year, in 2012 CAMRA West London branch Pub of the Year, and again in 2014 as joint branch Pub of the Year and in 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2021 as branch Pub of the Year once more. Previously privately owned it was sold to Fuller's in mid July 2014 for a reported £7 million so changes expected. Closed for some days in February 2015 for an upgrade to plumbing and electrics, in particular to swap over the Gents and Ladies toilets. Good range of regional and micro breweries beer available through 10 handpumps and a superb range of ciders and perries sold from boxes in the chilled cabinets behind the bar. 10% price discount for card carrying CAMRA members on cask ales.

We have visited this pub 530 times, seen 1074 different beers and tried 429 of them.

Map location

Postcode: WC2N 4HS